Tamil cinema is mourning the passing of director Bharathiraja earlier this Wednesday. Producer Suresh Kamatchi, who backed director Venkat Prabhu's Maanaadu, also starring the late filmmaker, shared his thoughts about the legendary director. Calling the veteran his father figure, Suresh said that he believed that the director would come out of his health situation, just like how "he would always rise again like a phoenix."
The producer spoke about his bond with Bharathiraja as well. He wrote, "I never imagined that you would leave us like this. I always saw you as a youth who had conquered old age. I would even tease you about it. And you would jokingly reply, "Get lost! I'm younger than all of you!" before moving on. Where will I find that youthful spirit now?"
Suresh revealed that the filmmaker wanted to keep working in the industry and talked to him about filmmaking even while at the hospital. Expressing his deep sense of grief, the producer added, "Today, death has stolen one of Tamil cinema's greatest treasures. It has taken away a man of immense love and affection." He spoke about the veteran filmmaker's legacy, writing, "The great epic of Tamil cinema is no longer with us. But the epics he created will never be erased by time... He taught us what true creativity means. He introduced countless new faces to the world... The footprints he left behind are guiding lights for today's generation."
Suresh alluded to how Bharathiraja took Tamil cinema out of the studio setting into outdoor locations. "Perhaps today, nature itself has called him to direct its own grand spectacle. Beloved man... affectionate father... you will never leave our hearts. I hold you close within me forever," Suresh added.
The producer ended his long note by expressing his condolences to Bharathiraja's family, friends, industry colleagues, and countless fans.
